Rung #51: FRANK to GRADE — the solution

The Rung ladder from October 4, 2026: FRANK to GRADE, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 6: the shortest climb there is takes 4 rungs, and par gives you 2 to spare.

The puzzle

Climb from FRANK to GRADE. The shortest climb through the whole accepted dictionary, counting the leap — two letters changed in one move, once, at the cost of two rungs — is 4 rungs; par is 2 more, so the shortest route comes in under it. Without the leap the shortest climb is 5 rungs; the leap saves 1.

The walkthrough

A climb under par, one of 7 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. FRANK → TRANK — the first letter, F becomes T.
2. TRANK → TRADE — the leap: N becomes D and K becomes E, two letters in one move for two rungs.
3. TRADE → GRADE — the first letter, T becomes G.

Other routes as short: FRANK · FRAME · GRAME · GRADE; FRANK · FRAPE · GRAPE · GRADE; FRANK · FRATE · GRATE · GRADE; and more.

The answer

FRANK · TRANK · TRADE · GRADE — 4 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #50 (Sat, Oct 3)

About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: five letters, one changed at a time, par set by the shortest climb there is. Any real word is a rung; a two-letter leap is yours once a day, and a hint when you are stuck. How to play Rung, or play today’s.